Red maple is found all across eastern North America, and are one of the most widely distributed trees in this region. Red maple inhabits deciduous forests and deciduous swamps. Deciduous forests  are a type of habitat classification that usually includes four different seasons. Leaves of broad-leaf deciduous trees like maples, oaks, and beeches change color in autumn and drop during winter. This adaptation allows deciduous trees to live through harsh winter conditions. Red maple trees are among the first species to produce buds in spring, flowering in April throughout the Adirondacks.

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Red maples are able to withstand disturbances like fire, clearcutting, and intense winds. In some forest areas red maple trees have increased their dominance because of the decline of oaks and beech trees. 

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